Abstract

Objective: Although there has been huge development in utilizing the computed tomography as a diagnostic tool, yet there are dose-related risks of developing cancer and mutation. The high cost of CT scan and its heath impact lead us to raise the possibility of creation an evidence based clinical guideline that might guide the ER physicians for ordering head CT scan especially for non-trauma patients. Study aimed to identify predictor factors of abnormal head CT findings among non-trauma patients.

Methods: Through a retrospective cross-sectional study design, patients who visited Emergency Department during the months of October, November and December of 2018 and underwent head CT (n = 724) were enrolled in the study.

Results: 724 patients were included in the study; majority of the patients 68% on age group of (18 to 70 years) with 1:1 male to female ratio. Greater number of patients who were visiting ED had focal neurological deficit symptoms and signs and Majorities of patients with symptoms and signs of focal neurological deficient had infarction features on CT. In multivariate analysis, neurological symptoms of Non-trauma patients were statistically significance and independent predictors for CT findings on CT image.

Conclusion: Abnormal radiological findings on head CT image is significantly associated with neurological symptoms of Non-trauma patients. Those with the focal neurological deficient symptoms and signs with known case of hypertension will have about three-fold risk of getting abnormal finding on CT image.

Keywords: Head Ct; Non-Trauma Patients; Clinical Predictors; Abnormal Findings; Neurological Symptoms

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